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WHY ENGINEERING?
When people think of health, they often think of doctors and medicine.But health is shaped by our environment—by the water we drink, the spaces we live in, and the ability to care for ourselves with dignity.
At Solidarity, we use engineering as a tool for public health. Rather than just responding to crises, we design solutions that prevent disease, create safer environments, and restore dignity for displaced and vulnerable communities.
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From clean water to safe spaces to STEAM education, our work is driven by a simple idea: engineering builds the foundations of health, safety, and dignity.
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01
Engineering Health: TREAT THE SOURCE
Our environment directly impacts our health. Instead of responding to disease outbreaks, our services work to prevent disease before it starts.
The Problem:
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Globally, 395,000 children under five die annually from unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions.
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Every year, 85,700 children under the age of 15 die from diarrhea linked to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions.
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In protracted conflicts, children under 5 are more than 20 times more likely to die from diarrheal disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than violence in conflict.
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Working alongside healthcare professionals allows us to tackle problems collaboratively. Medical professionals often treat the symptoms of disease. Engineers can treat the cause. Only together can we solve health-related problems and achieve our joint goal of reduced suffering.​​
02
A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO COMPLEX PROBLEMS
Engineers love breaking down complex problems into parts and subsystems; this is called a systems approach.
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Solidarity believes in the use of systems-thinking to foster sustainable change, better understand and provide lifesaving aid in complex regions and crises. With global displacement at an all-time high, all of our programs are designed to create systems that empower individuals in times of extreme vulnerability.
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INTERSECTION OF EMERGENCY AND DEVELOPMENT
Traditional humanitarian response systems categorize efforts into disaster/emergency response (which is immediate but temporary) or development (which is long-term). The reality of modern displacement is that in many cases, displacement is both an immediate disaster and a potentially indefinite circumstance. This gap in how populations are defined leads to an ever-widening chasm in the delivery of humanitarian aid.
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To close this gap, Solidarity has a wide range of WASH and infrastructure activities that address both sudden onset needs and long-term regional needs.
The Solution:
HUMANITARIAN ENGINEERING
Humanitarian engineering is the use of scientific and technological skills to improve the well-being of populations with limited fundamental resources.
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Solidarity works to improve the environment of people in crisis by focusing on public health interventions. Our projects are community-driven, multi-disciplinary, and focus on finding simple solutions to basic needs.
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At Solidarity, we believe that engineering isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about building dignity, safety, and opportunity. That’s why we use humanitarian engineering to solve life-threatening problems while also creating spaces where displaced and vulnerable communities can thrive.